Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) for running GNU/Linux environments on Windows 10 and Windows 11 is now generally available with version 1.0.0. Microsoft has been developing WSL for several years, including its own custom Linux kernel. Initially, WSL and WSL2 were optional components within Windows, but last October, Microsoft made the preview WSL available as a separate app in the Microsoft Store. The Store version may bring the user (mainly the developer and his IT professionals) faster updates and features that are not dependent on Windows updates.
In addition to getting rid of WSL’s “preview” label, Microsoft is making his WSL app in the store the default app for new users. As Microsoft said when it released Windows 11 last October, its long-term plan was to switch WSL users to the Store version. However, Windows 11 still supported the “Inbox” version of WSL and the store version continued to evolve. With this release, Microsoft has ported his WSL functionality to Windows 10 and 11, making the store version of WSL the default environment.
The latest backport will be available to “searchers” who click “Check for updates” in Windows settings, but will be automatically pushed to devices in mid-December. Updates are available for Windows 10 versions 21H1, 21H2, or 22H2 or Windows 11 21H2 (all November updates). Microsoft details a number of changes to the command since the store version of WSL is the default, stating “wsl.exe –install automatically installs the store version of WSL and is no longer activated.
Now using “Windows Subsystem for Linux”, please remove optional components or install WSL kernel or WSLg MSI packages that are no longer needed.” Optional components for virtual machine platforms still remain Enabled and installs Ubuntu by default. One of the most important new additions to WSL 1.0 is the ability for users to opt in to support systemd, the rogue Linux system and service manager that runs by default on several Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Debian. Users will use Linux GUI apps, a feature previously reserved for Windows 11 users.